Police bodycam footage has captured the shocking moment a driverless Waymo taxi blocked firefighters as they rushed to a deadly explosion in Dallas, Texas. The incident occurred on Thursday when a blast ripped through an apartment building, resulting in the deaths of an 18-month-old baby named Eric, his mother Marisol Perez, and civil rights activist Sylvia Collins.
Bodycam Footage Reveals Frustration
In the footage, a police officer can be seen aggressively confronting the stationary Waymo vehicle, shouting, "Go, come on, go." The driverless taxi was positioned sideways across the road, preventing emergency responders from reaching the blaze. Dallas County Deputy Constable Jonathan Banda, upon realizing the car was empty, exclaimed, "Man, there's nobody in here."
Remote Assistance Attempts
Banda connected with a remote Waymo agent, who asked if he could be heard. The officer responded, "OK. Yes. You need to move this car ASAP, please. There's a fire around the corner. Move this car. You're blocking the roadway." The Waymo staffer acknowledged a "minor issue" and requested a moment to resolve it. However, the delay proved critical as more emergency vehicles arrived.
According to NBC DFW, Waymo later explained that the vehicle had been attempting a three-point turn to leave the area when the officer approached. Banda, growing increasingly frustrated, said, "If I can manually move it, I'll move it. Come on man, we need you to move it." Eventually, the remote operator unlocked the vehicle, allowing Banda to drive it out of the way.
Firefighters Finally Reach Scene
Speaking to FOX 4, Banda stated, "I knew I had to clear the way for the firefighters coming in. I could hear the sirens coming in. He released it to me and, at that point, another engine was coming down the street with the hoses they needed to deploy out there." Around 100 firefighters were en route to the fire, which was triggered by the explosion.
Waymo's Response
In a statement, Waymo emphasized its commitment to safety, saying, "Safety is fundamental to everything we do, and that includes how our vehicles are designed to interact with law enforcement and first responders." The company added, "While the officer was engaging with our vehicle and our remote assistance team, the street remained clear and other vehicles passed by unimpeded. We remain committed to working closely with Dallas law enforcement and first responders to ensure they have the tools, training, and information they need."
